Le Mans 2014 – Dome dreams of a return with the S103

On June 22 and 23, Dome will not be in Sarthe, on the occasion of the 81st edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Too bad, last year, the Japanese manufacturer found a way to be at the start, by entrusting an S102.5 with a Judd engine to the Pescarolo Team. A turnkey project that the four-time winner of the Le Mans classic would have been wrong to refuse. Alas, the results of this car entrusted to the French Sébastien Bourdais and Nicolas Minassian as well as the Japanese Seiji Ara had not lived up to expectations, both at the 6 Hours of Spa and at Le Mans.

But eagerly wanting to be there next year, Dome is working hard on its new S103, which has already gone through the “wind tunnel”. A car, resulting from a CFD study (computer-assisted study of fluid dynamics), meeting the new 2014 regulations, and which cannot deny the family links with its predecessor seen in 2012.

If Dome dreams above all of LMP1, the manufacturer has indicated that an LMP2 version of this car should also see the light of day. After Perrinn Limited last week (see Ah n°1911, available now in digital version and on newsstands tomorrow), here is a second manufacturer which announces its ambition to come and compete with the big manufacturers in the premier category ofEndurance. Like the British firm, Dome is developing a car capable of accommodating engines of different architecture.